H o n g K o n g

This is our 2nd visit to Hong Kong this year. The previous trip was considered unfruitful in terms of my adventure and photography fix. I have to see more of this city as it has an amazing arrays of scenery and activities. And I definitely got it from this trip.

 We arrived at night and were greeted by the Christmassy atmosphere that has decorated the town. What a tall tree at Times Square!

 And the stars glitter around The Peninsula. No, we did not stay here. I wish we could but we need a big sponsor.

 We stayed at the Hotel Harbour Plaza Metropolis, overlooking the Hong Kong Coliseum with partial sea view. Not that bad right?

 Sharon needed to visit a friend who teach in Singapore International School near Aberdeen. So that is our first stop for the day.

 The school sits on the hill and offers a wonderful view.

 The school is very well run with creative programs and is equipped with facilities that any child could ask for

 Mask artwork on display. Even the not so 'desirable' ones.  

Hand prints of students were made into a painting along this passage.

 Assembly & sports hall. Mind you, it is air-conditioned.

Wow, a full lap pool. Compare with the primary school at home, the students here are darned lucky.

 From Aberdeen, we stopped next at Stanley. The wife never got sick of this place, as she could pick up more paintings. Found this temple with bright red doors. 

 With the Generals guarding the 天后古庙

Is this the legendary 姑婆屋, where the spinsters live out their remaining life?

 Folks meet and chat the day away. What else to do then?

 And this I called an open concept home.

It is so hard to get a sharp photo in low lights, without a tripod. I resort to hit & run shots, and hope for the best. Tonight, nothing was good enough.

 I have always wanted to island hop in Hong Kong. It has so many islands where we can visit and today, we visited Lamma Island (南丫島). We boarded a ferry from Central and the ride took about 20 minutes.

 We arrived at the pier and the first thing we noticed was the bicycles that lined on both sides of the jetty. There is no automotive vehicle in this island and the only mode of transport is by foot or a bicycle.

 Self-styled houses in front of your own plantations. You eat what you sow.

 And large semi-detached houses where many were rented out to expatriates.

 Our 4-legged friend taking a walk by himself

 Let me out, and I promised I won't bite....pleaseee.

 A lazy morning nap. Come to think of it, they nap anytime they want.

I am on the look out for cats, so you cannot hide, my friend.

 View of the harbour front 

 We stopped for bean curd that tasted so smooth and nice. What a relief from the long walk. Better have another bowl for the remaining walk.

 A hiking trail of 4km to guide you along. The common route is to arrive at Yung Shue Wan, and walk over a hilly range to reach Sok Kwu Wan.

 We passed a beach along the way, but since it is winter, it is too cold to swim.

 But visitors still turned up in full force to enjoy a day out to this beautiful island.

   What a nice view.

 And if you want something challenging, this is way to do it. Down the hill at break neck pace! Hope his brakes work.

 More scenic view, and a pavilion to rest your tired feet.

 There are many lookout points along the trail, and this one points you to Sok Kwu Wan.

 Another break to take, so that the girls could get their shopping desire fixed.

Arriving at Sok Kwu Wan for seafood lunch before catching the afternoon ferry back. 

Back to the concrete jungle of Hong Kong island.

 We spent part of our last day at Victoria Peak. Instead of taking the tram, we decided to board the double decker bus up. Along the way, we saw a demonstration. For us, it is highly unusual. For the Hong Kongers, their rights are highly regarded.

 Have to take a shot of the harbour before the sun go down.

 And another one with a moon over it.

Reverse view to capture Aberdeen Harbour.

I must say this is a better trip than the one I had in March. The trip to Lamma Island has to be the highlights as the experience itself is awesome. I certainly enjoyed the laid back part of HK than the usual touristy attractions.

And another travel trip awaiting....

V i r g i n i a

'Almost heaven, West Virginia. Blue Ridge Mountains, Shenandoah River...' As John Denver yearn the country roads and mountains that he belonged, we treasured our remaining days in USA with a visit to Virginia. We rented a car from Washington DC to see the Shenandoah National Park, before we fly back to Tampa through Richmond.

 Vintage car owners gathered to share their passions.

 Inside Luray Caverns

 I am not particularly a fan of anything underground but that does not mean I am not adventurous.

 Stalactites & stalagmites

 Shenandoah National Park encompasses part of the Blue Ridge Mountains and is a protected area.

 The best way to see the valley is to take the Skyline Drive.

 Midway through the drive, we reached the Dark Hollow.

 We took a less intense hike to see the famous Dark Hollow Falls.

 Without my trusting camera, I could only make do with this shot on slow shutter with the spare one.

 We hit route 11 and arrived at Natural Bridge. 

 Natural Bridge is an amazing limestone monument through years of nature formation.

 The bridge is higher than Niagara Falls but the photo did not do justice to show exactly how tall it is. 

Clear Creek flowing through the valley, where we saw bears and deers in the wild. Unfortunately, I could not capture any on photos.

This is the last post of my nearly 3 weeks trip to America. It felt like only yesterday when we arrived, and every moment is still vividly clear to me. Thanks to my sister and brother in-law, we were able to travel to many places. I truly had a wonderful and enjoyable holiday with the family. The money is well-spent, and I leave with fond memories that would last a long time.

And another travel trip awaiting....